If an employer decides unilaterally to discontinue or reduce the bonuses previously paid to his staff, whether those premiums derived from express contractual clauses or from established practice, he is required when imposing that change to observe the procedure laid down for changes of essential working conditions detrimental to the employee.
The employer must therefore inform his employee by registered letter and the reduction or cancellation of the bonus may take effect only on expiry of the period of notice, which depends on the employee’s years of service.